His left hand moved.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I got it wrong, then. What about Chellen? Or Vien? Ah... you must be from Horden then. Good, I got it right. Did you know? I’m also from Horden, from the southern territory of Remeo.”
✦ ✦ ✦
As their conversation continued, the soldier’s breath began to return to normal.
✦ ✦ ✦
Renee felt this and continued talking.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Now, let’s try guessing the city. Shall we start with the capital?”
✦ ✦ ✦
Weaving her power into her divinity was something that Renee also needed time to prepare for.
✦ ✦ ✦
Therefore, the lengthy conversation lasted until Renee found out about the soldier’s hometown, his work, and his relationships.
✦ ✦ ✦
A power of possibilities.
✦ ✦ ✦
Renee let out a small breath, feeling stiff on the inside.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘...That was close.’
✦ ✦ ✦
It would have affected her soul if she had used it just a little more.
✦ ✦ ✦
Renee spoke to the soldier, hiding the strain it tolled on her.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Now, soldier Tidon from Remeo. You will safely return home, inherit your father’s farm, get married to your fiance who is three years younger, and have three children, as we talked about. I’ll have to pray hard for that to happen.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The soldier’s breathing had completely stabilized by now.
✦ ✦ ✦
This was because Renee wrapped the mark with her divinity, temporarily severing its connection with him.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘Now I just need to crush the mark in this state.’
✦ ✦ ✦
She had to turn this temporary phenomenon into a permanent severance.
✦ ✦ ✦
Renee spoke for the last time.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I’ll begin now. Soldier, you must tell me your name when you wake up, okay?”
✦ ✦ ✦
She spoke with a playful smile.
✦ ✦ ✦
Right after, Renee clenched her fist.
✦ ✦ ✦
Crumble—
✦ ✦ ✦
With a gruesome sound, something crumbled and scattered into the air.
✦ ✦ ✦
What followed was someone’s exclamation.
✦ ✦ ✦
It floated above the space where he held his breath until that moment.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Ah...”
✦ ✦ ✦
There was an emotion in his voice that felt familiar.
✦ ✦ ✦
It was unmistakable reverence.
✦ ✦ ✦
Clap, clap.
✦ ✦ ✦
From where the exclamation had resonated, applause echoed.
✦ ✦ ✦
Shortly after, it spread contagiously in all directions.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Woahhhhhhh!”
✦ ✦ ✦
As if the previously quiet atmosphere was a lie, cheers erupted, filling the entire lakeside.
✦ ✦ ✦
It was the most common reaction from someone who had witnessed a miracle, and also the best way to erase the fear that had been present until then.
✦ ✦ ✦
Renee let out an awkward smile.
✦ ✦ ✦
Next to her, Vera looked at her with a heartwarming emotion.
✦ ✦ ✦
Without realizing it, Renee had grown up so much, and he couldn’t recognize the woman before him.
✦ ✦ ✦
She was there, receiving well-deserved praises from many people and smiling shyly.
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera’s expression crumbled as he was filled with indescribable emotions, and he fell on his knees.
✦ ✦ ✦
He took Renee’s hand, which was still on the soldier’s neck.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Thank you for your hard work.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Renee’s head turned toward Vera.
✦ ✦ ✦
Right after, she leaned in closer to Vera and whispered.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I looked completely like a Saint, didn’t I?”
✦ ✦ ✦
Her voice was full of mischief.
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera’s eyes widened at this, and then he let out a chuckle.
✦ ✦ ✦
“...Yes, you look more like the Saint now than ever before.”
✦ ✦ ✦
It was entirely true.
✦ ✦ ✦
Renee now displayed a truly heroic figure that anyone could call the Saint.
✦ ✦ ✦
The thought came to Vera’s mind as he tightly held Renee’s hand.